Discussing Diversity in Yoga with Dianne Bondy

Published: August 3, 2016

Different body types, abilities and ethnicities are not always represented in the yoga community. Many believe that this lack of representation can deter potential practitioners from starting their yoga practice in the first place. As an organization that values diversity in all aspects of yoga, we wanted to learn more about how yoga teachers can shape their communities to be more inclusive.

Our own Irene Waggener, a Member Programs Associate and RYT 200, sat down with Dianne Bondy, E-RYT 500, to discuss strategies to make yoga more inclusive. After Dianne’s very successful workshop, Bridging the Divide: Diversity in Yoga, she was flooded with questions about how yoga teachers can get involved. During the podcast, she touches on some of the themes from those questions.

“If you want people from outside your community, people who look different from you, people who are underserved in this community, you have to go to them because they’re not going to come to you.”

In this podcast, Dianne Bondy shares her thoughts on:

How teaching outside a traditional yoga studio encourages diverse groups to try yoga,
How going to communities outside of your own draws diverse groups to your studio, and
How you can be inclusive of all body types in your classes if you fit the stereotyped “thin, yoga body” image.

The content presented today expresses the views of our presenter and does not necessarily reflect the views of Yoga Alliance.

About Dianne Bondy

Dianne Bondy, E-RYT 500 and owner of RYS 200 and RYS 300, Yoga For All, is a social justice activist and leading voice of the Yoga For All movement. Her view of yoga empowers thousands of followers around the world - regardless of their shape, size, ethnicity or level of ability. She provides millions of followers with affordable access to online yoga classes on her virtual studio, Yogasteya. Dianne contributes to Yoga International, Yoga Journal, Do You Yoga, and Elephant Journal.

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